Written Answers Thursday 11 November 2010

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the decision by the BBC to withdraw as host broadcaster of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the additional cost to the 2014 Commonwealth Games of providing TV coverage following the BBC decision to withdraw as host broadcaster.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the loss in sponsorship revenue to the 2014 Commonwealth Games following the BBC decision to withdraw as host broadcaster.

Shona Robison: The approach to broadcasting at previous Commonwealth Games has varied. At Manchester 2002, for instance, the provider of the host broadcasting function and the domestic broadcast rights holder were the same organisation. On other occasions, for example Melbourne 2006, the host broadcaster was procured separately. The budget for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has factored in the anticipated cost of procuring a commercial host broadcast service provider with the costs to be offset through the sale of the domestic and international broadcasting rights. Therefore, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee does not anticipate any negative budgetary impact or loss of sponsorship revenue from the BBC’s decision, and the Government and its partners remain confident that the Games will be delivered within the agreed budget.

Agriculture

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it has reduced the impact of regulation on the farming community since it came into office.

Richard Lochhead: I am sure the member is aware that most of the regulation that impacts on Scotland’s farmers and land managers comes from Europe and under the terms of the Scotland Act Scottish Ministers must implement relevant EU rules.

  The Scottish Government is however committed to reducing the burden on Scotland’s farmers and have taken effective action to ensure that happens. Our Scotland's Environmental and Rural Services (SEARS) initiative continues to improve the experience of service delivery for farmers and other rural land managers. Since its launch at Royal Highland Show 2008, SEARS has rationalised inspection activity, reduced charges, tackled bureaucracy, listened to customers, and improved access to services.

Agriculture

Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the findings of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture and Rural Development by Brian Pack.

Richard Lochhead: The inquiry was asked to advise on how the Scottish Government's vision for agriculture could be put into practice in a future farm support system. I would like to pay tribute to Brian Pack and his committee for their excellent work on the inquiry.

  The Scottish Government gave an initial response when the inquiry report was published on 3 November 2010. Considerable follow-up work will be needed and I will announce details shortly.

  As Brian Pack himself said, the development of a new farm support system will be a long process, involving lengthy European negotiations. At this stage, it is important to establish the principles underlying a new system. While we are still studying the report in detail, I can already endorse the main principles it sets out.

Agriculture

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or will conduct an official inquiry into the reasons for the guidance on Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes land eligibility being distributed so late in the application cycle and, if such an inquiry has been conducted, what the conclusions were.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s Notes for Guidance on the Single Farm Payment Scheme are a bold initiative to explain what constitutes eligible / ineligible land for the purposes of claiming support. They are unique amongst the notes issued by all UK agriculture departments in the explanation of problems using photographs to illustrate the issue of eligible land for subsidy purposes. The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate’s (SGRPID) original plan was to have the notes issued earlier but problems were encountered in achieving a satisfactory resolution of the illustrations. The notes were issued close to the deadline for application forms but SGRPID took additional steps to clarify that farmers could correct their land declarations at any time. A significant number of farmers took the opportunity to do that and avoid possible penalties. In this way, we ensured no farmers were disadvantaged by the later delivery of these notes. For the future, lessons have been learned about starting the production process at an earlier stage.

Ambulance Service

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a rise in hospital appointment cancellations as a result of recent changes to the criteria for use of the patient transport service.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) have confirmed that there have been no changes to the clinical criteria for their Patient Transport Service (PTS). However, as part of delivering its framework Working together for better patient care 2010-1015 , which can be found at:  http://www.scottishambulance.com/News/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=95 , the SAS have set up a scheduled services programme board to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of service provided to patients. One of the key aims of this programme board is to improve the assessment of patient need for PTS.

  One of the work streams being taken forward to achieve this is a review of the clinical criteria already in place, to ensure clarity of understanding and shared ownership across the NHS and for patients, and to develop improved procedures for the application and governance of those clinical criteria. This work stream is being progressed in close collaboration with territorial NHS boards, patients, and other partners, and has been informed by the extensive feedback received by the service through the consultation exercise that informed its framework.

Birds

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the tradition of harvesting young gannets.

Richard Lochhead: The harvesting of gannet chicks would clearly be unlawful save for Section 16(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows for a licence to be issued for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to a gannet on the island of Sula Sgeir, if it is done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the appropriate authority.

  The Scottish Government will only consider issuing a licence where it is content that there are no animal welfare issues arising from the taking of the gannet chicks; and that the population of the gannets on Sula Sgeir remains in favourable condition; and the taking of gannet chicks would not significantly impact on their population. This population monitoring is undertaken as part of an appropriate assessment carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage. Where a licence is granted, it is for a specified number of gannet chicks and the hunt is subject to inspection for compliance with the licence conditions.

Blood Donors

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence supports the banning of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis from giving blood.

Shona Robison: Following a recommendation in July 2010 by the UK Blood Services Standing Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Donors and the Joint Professional Advisory Committee, from 1 November 2010 across the UK, those with a history of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are permanently deferred from donating blood for the protection of their own health. This decision was made to bring the donor deferral criteria for those in this group into line with those with other relapsing conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.

Cancer

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to create a cancer drugs fund to improve access to ultra-orphan treatments.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the Department of Health cancer drugs fund consultation findings once they are published.

  Scotland has robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed clinically and cost-effective medicines to treat all conditions, including rare diseases. The arrangements include opportunities at local level for clinically led consideration of medicines for individual patients in certain circumstances.

  In appraising orphan medicines to treat rare diseases, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) may, in addition to the standard assessment of clinical and cost-effectiveness, apply modifiers which consider other additional factors. subject to meeting certain criteria, this can facilitate acceptance of a medicine notwithstanding the economic evidence provided. Full details on SMC policies can be found on the SMC website at:

  http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/smc/3863.21.24.html.

Care of Elderly People

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the mental wellbeing of older people in care homes is included in the qualification framework for nurses and care assistants.

Shona Robison: A range of measures are in place or are being further developed to ensure that staff in care homes have the skills to meet the needs of the residents.

  The National Care Standards require that the care and support which care home residents receive is provided by staff whose professional training and expertise allows them to meet residents' needs. Ensuring compliance with the National Care Standards is part of the Care Commission’s inspection process.

  The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is responsible for registering people who work in social services in Scotland and regulates their education and training. The SSSC accepts a wide range of qualifications that must meet a general set of principles of integration of practice and learning, be recognised within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and be consistent with the SSSC Code of Practice. Registration with the SSSC is being phased in. Nurses working in social services must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and no other registration is necessary.

  The National Dementia Strategy published earlier this year includes a commitment to develop a framework that sets out the skills and knowledge expected of staff in different settings, not just specialist dementia services. This is due for completion in 2011.

Children

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Permanence Orders were used in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 and have been used in 2010.

Adam Ingram: The Children Looked After Statistics show that on both 31 March 2008 and 31 March 2009 there were four children subject to Permanence Orders.

  However, as Permanence Orders came into effect on 28 September 2009, these figures, as reported by local authorities, are likely to be recording errors.

  Statistics for 2009-10 will be published in February 2011.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much net saving per annum it expects to make through replacement of Learning and Teaching Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Education with the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency.

Michael Russell: The prime reason for establishing the new agency is to ensure that we have the best possible national structure in place to support and challenge our education system.

  Nonetheless, the creation of the new organisation provides an excellent opportunity to ensure that it will deliver its services as efficiently as possible, making savings whenever it can.

  Further and detailed work will be carried out between now and the end of the year to define the scope, functions, structure and leadership of the new agency. The detail of the savings arising from the structural changes will be known once the necessary business architecture is in place and operational structures are finalised.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the set-up costs of the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency will be, broken down by category of expenditure.

Michael Russell: Detailed work is currently underway between now and the end of the year to identify future savings and also to identify any initial transitional costs.

  The aim will be to keep such costs to a minimum and within budget where possible.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs of the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency will be, broken down by category of expenditure.

Michael Russell: The detail of annual running costs of the new agency will be confirmed once the necessary business architecture is in place and operational structures are finalised.

  Further and detailed work will be carried out between now and the end of the year to define the scope, functions, structure and leadership of the new agency.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any non-voluntary redundancies through the replacement of Learning and Teaching Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Education with the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency.

Michael Russell: Scottish Ministers have given a commitment of no compulsory redundancies for the period of this spending review until March 2011 and this policy applies to both HM Inspectorate of Education and Learning and Teaching Scotland staff. We expect that any necessary reductions in staffing will be achieved, where appropriate, through redeployment, natural turnover or if necessary, targeted and cost effective voluntary early retirement/ severance arrangements. The final staff complement will become clear as the detailed structure of the new agency is developed.

  Scottish Ministers have given the commitment to no compulsory redundancies until March 2011. However, if after transfer posts become surplus, staff will be helped to find suitable posts elsewhere in the agency, the Scottish Government or in the wider Scottish public sector in accordance with established redeployment policies and procedures. There are established protocol arrangements to allow public bodies, where specific criteria are met to allow staff to apply for posts in other Government organisations via the Cabinet Office Website (http://www.careers.civil-service.gov.uk). A redeployment unit has also been set up within the Scottish Government to help secure posts in Scotland’s public sector for any surplus staff resulting from the simplification programme or decisions made by Scottish Ministers.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 14 October 2010 on the replacement of Learning and Teaching Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Education with the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency, whether it will provide details of the "less bureaucracy, less red tape and [with] more resources freed to go to the frontline" as stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-36986 and S3W-36988 on 11 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Education

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what relationship it has with Columba 1400 for the purpose of school leadership development.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is well aware of the work of Columba 1400 on supporting leadership in Scotland’s school and has been taking an active interest in it, most recently through a meeting last month between the Chief Executive of the organisation and Scottish Government officials. While the primary responsibility for school leadership development lies with local authorities, we look forward to continuing to build on that relationship.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will appoint a dedicated officer to develop district heating as a discrete policy area, as indicated in Action 6.2 of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.

Jim Mather: We recently appointed a dedicated officer who will take forward district heating policy and will co-ordinate activity across Scottish Government. The post commenced in August 2010.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide further details of what local heat mapping and feasibility projects it has supported, as indicated in Action 6.2 of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government is funding a heat mapping pilot in the Highland Council area and it is our intention to disseminate the results to other local authorities. We are supporting Sustainable Glasgow through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund and we also fund the Energy Saving Trust work programme for Scotland, which includes their recently published Scottish Planner Support Pack Sustainable Energy in the Built Environment: Best Practice for Scottish Planners . This provides supportive information to planning authorities on heat mapping.

Energy Efficiency

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36635 by Alex Neil on 26 October 2010, how many families received support from the Energy Assistance Package in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Alex Neil: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010, there were the following referrals to the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) for families with children:

  

Stage 2 (Benefits Advice)
2,421


Stage 3 (Insulation Measures)
828


Stage 4 (Heating and Insulation-Only -Measures)
1,349



  Between 1 April 2010 and 27 September 2010, there were the following referrals for families with children:

  

Stage 2 (Benefits Advice)
1,171


Stage 3 (Insulation Measures)
399


Stage 4 (Heating and Insulation-Only Measures)
2,098



  A further extension of EAP assistance to families was made by this Government in May 2010 as part of our strategy to better target the fuel poor. In its second year of operation, EAP assistance to families is now showing a higher run rate in the number of referrals, and in stages 3 and 4, as a proportion of EAP-eligible applicants.

Environment

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental criteria Scottish Natural Heritage assesses prior to the installation of onshore wind farms.

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a statutory consultee in relation to all developments which are subject to environmental impact assessment and in relation to all strategic environmental assessments. In addition, SNH may offer comments or advice to local planning authorities on other smaller scale developments where there are significant natural heritage issues. In formulating its advice in all these cases, SNH will consider the likely impacts on flora, fauna, landscape, visual amenity, recreation and access.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the First Minister and the deputy leader of the City of Edinburgh Council since May 2007 and what issues were discussed.

Jim Mather: The First Minister and the Deputy Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council both attended a meeting on 12 October 2009. That meeting explored whether the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo might purchase The Gathering 2009 Ltd with a view to delivering future Gathering events and securing the associated economic benefits for Scotland.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings the First Minister has attended with representatives of the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss The Gathering 2009.

Jim Mather: The First Minister attended a meeting on 12 October 2009 to explore whether the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo might purchase The Gathering 2009 Ltd with a view to delivering future Gathering events and securing the associated economic benefits for Scotland. The City of Edinburgh Council was represented at that meeting.

Fisheries

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36156 by Richard Lochhead on 17 September 2010, what stages of the production process do not require to take place in the designated area and on what this opinion is based.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36156 by Richard Lochhead on 17 September 2010, whether it considers the specification of the protected geographical indication regulation for Scottish farmed salmon covers the freshwater phases of salmon production as well as the seawater phases of production.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36156 by Richard Lochhead on 17 September 2010, from the harvesting of the eggs up to the distribution stage, whether it considers that all these stages are required to take place in the protected geographical indication regulation designated area.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36157 on 17 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Fisheries

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36155 by Richard Lochhead on 17 September 2010, whether Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 as established by the European Commission provides that, where production of fresh fish is the qualifying activity, it must all be in the defined area and what it intends to do to remove discrepancies that it has previously confirmed exist between the single document and the specification.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34479 on 28 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Fisheries

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of concerns regarding the potential impact on migratory fish stocks of offshore renewable developments, in particular in relation to electromagnetic fields around cables and, if so, what its response is.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been completed or are being undertaken into the potential impact on migratory fish stocks of offshore renewable developments, in particular in relation to electromagnetic fields around cables.

Richard Lochhead: I am aware of concerns about the potential for offshore renewable developments to impact on migratory fish stocks. Environmental assessments of proposed developments will provide an opportunity to consider the likelihood and scale of particular developments using information on migratory routes and behaviour, characteristics of the location under consideration, project design and the technologies deployed.

  Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage have also been working closely to research the potential impacts of marine renewable energy on fish species that migrate between the freshwater and marine environments. Scottish Natural Heritage has commissioned research into the effects of electromagnetic fields and noise, arising from marine renewable energy developments, on these fish species. Marine Scotland Science has undertaken research into the migratory routes and behaviour of these species. Both research reports will be published shortly.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34534 by Shona Robison on 28 June 2010, what level of retinal screening was carried out as part of the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening programme in the last two years for which statistics are available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The level of screening carried out by the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) Programme over the past two years is set out in the following table.

  

 
2008-09
2009-10


Percentage of People Eligible forDRS Successfully Screened1
83%
80.3%


Number of People Eligible forDRS Successfully Screened
156,312
157,937



  Notes:

  1. People may be suspended from the Screening Programme for one of the following reasons:

  Informed choice to opt out;

  Under the age of 12 years;

  No perception of light;

  Terminal illness;

  A physical or mental disability preventing either screening or treatment;

  Currently under the care of an ophthalmologist for the treatment and follow-up management of diabetic retinopathy; and

  Temporarily unavailable.

  Source: DRS Collaborative annual reports.

  On the basis of activity so far this year, the DRS programme expects to reach screening levels of 85% by the end of the 2010-11. The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland target is that 80% of those eligible should be screened within each 12 month period.

Health

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make extra funds available or adapt the existing Scottish Medicines Consortium health technology assessment process in order to improve access to ultra-orphan treatments.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to make extra funds available. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) gives due consideration to its processes on a regular basis.

  Scotland has a robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed clinically and cost-effective medicines to treat all conditions, including rare diseases. The arrangements include opportunities at local level for clinically led consideration of medicines for individual patients in certain circumstances.

  In appraising orphan medicines to treat rare diseases, the SMC may, in addition to the standard assessment of clinical and cost-effectiveness, apply modifiers which consider other additional factors. Subject to meeting certain criteria, this can facilitate acceptance of a medicine notwithstanding the economic evidence provided. Full details on SMC policies can be found on the SMC website at:

  http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/smc/3863.21.24.html.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to evaluate the performance of community health partnerships and community health and care partnerships.

Nicola Sturgeon: 1. Community health partnerships are not separate statutory bodies. They are committees or sub-committees of NHS boards and are accountable for their performance to NHS boards. Where an NHS board and local authority have established a community health and care partnership then both the NHS board and local authority monitor their performance.

  2. The Scottish Government commissioned independent research into the progress that community health partnerships and community health and care partnerships have made since their inception. The report was published in May 2010.

Health and Safety

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with NFU Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive to improve health and safety awareness among the farming community.

Richard Lochhead: Health and safety at work is a reserved matter and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulating health and safety in Scotland. Nevertheless the Scottish Government wants to see greater awareness of health and safety issues amongst Scotland’s farming communities. There has been recent contact at official level between the HSE, the NHS Centre for Healthy Working Lives and the partners in Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services to explore ways in which the HSE can be supported in raising awareness of health and safety in rural Scotland.

Healthcare-Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £400,000 provided to the NHS for 250 steam cleaners in 2009 has been spent and how many steam cleaners have been purchased.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Facilities Scotland has advised that all of the £400,000 funding provided in 2008-09 was spent on the purchase of 250 steam cleaners.

Healthcare-Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS boards have purchased and used the steam cleaners allocated to them.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Facilities Scotland has advised that all NHS boards have received their allocation of steam cleaners and have implemented cleaning programmes for the use of steam.

Healthcare-Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement of additional funding, whether there are any infection control concerns that have prevented the use of steam cleaners.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Facilities Scotland has confirmed that there are no infection control concerns that have prevented the use of steam cleaners. They have advised that concerns were raised in relation to aerosolization, but as the machines purchased have a combined steam machine with vacuum, these concerns have not been realised.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36816 by Michael Russell on 29 October 2010, what methodology was used to calculate the value to the economy of Scottish universities’ international activities.

Michael Russell: The £500 million figure was provided by Universities Scotland and is taken from an independent economic impact study undertaken by BiGGAR Economics Limited.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people retain the right to buy (RTB) their home either through preserved or modernised RTB.

Alex Neil: The latest official figures show that there are around 285,300 dwellings owned and managed by local authorities that are considered to be normal letting stock. It is expected that all the households currently occupying these dwellings have either preserved rights, modernised rights, or are serving the five year qualifying period leading to modernised right to buy eligibility. The breakdown of data for these categories is currently not held centrally. The Scottish Government is however working with local authorities to explore the possibility of collecting this breakdown and improving the information in this area.

  In addition to local authority tenants, registered social landlords have reported to the Scottish Housing Regulator that, as at 31 March 2010, 150,600 of their 265,400 tenancies qualify for either preserved or modernised right to buy. This figure can be broken down to show that 68,800 have preserved rights and 81,800 have modernised rights. The remainder are either exempt or are serving the qualifying period leading to modernised right to buy eligibility.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when funds will be available to Pentland Housing Association Ltd for adaptations to social rented housing.

Alex Neil: Pentland Housing Association has been allocated a budget of £770,000 to spend on affordable housing this financial year. The association decided to allocate £10,000 of this budget to fund adaptations to its housing stock. Demand for adaptations has exceeded the association’s initial forecasts and an additional £10,000 of housing investment funding has been awarded to Pentland Housing Association specifically for adaptations.

Housing Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36530 by Alex Neil on 4 October 2010, what individuals or organisations are members of the working group set up to assess the impact in Scotland of the changes in housing benefit.

Alex Neil: I refer to the member to the answer to question S3W-36698 on 27 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Housing Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36698 by Alex Neil on 4 October 2010, when the advisory group on housing benefit will report.

Alex Neil: Rather than producing a final report, the Stakeholder Advisory Group will be asked to contribute on an ongoing basis to our assessment of the impact in Scotland of the proposed housing benefit changes and our engagement with the UK Government. We will use the evidence from our emerging assessment to seek to influence the reform agenda proposed by the UK Government, particularly where it adversely affects Scotland’s tenants.

Justice

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to Lord Gill’s Report of the Scottish Civil Courts Review.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government Response to the Report and Recommendations of the Scottish Civil Courts Review was published on 11 November 2010 and is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/09114610/0.

  Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52006).

Local Govenment Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36476 by John Swinney on 30 September 2010, whether a decision has been taken on providing an analysis of the implementation of the 2009-10 single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: No decision has yet been made.

Maritime Issues

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the UK Government regarding its decision to decommission the Maritime and Coastguard emergency towing vehicles, Anglian Prince and Anglian Sovereign, in light of their role in protecting Scotland’s marine and coastal interests from maritime accidents.

Richard Lochhead: I wrote to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on 8 November 2010 requesting that the decision to withdraw funding for the emergency towing vessels (ETVs) stationed at Stornoway and Lerwick be reconsidered.

  In doing so, I noted that in his 1994 report Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas, Lord Donaldson recommended that "The UK Government should set up a system to ensure that tugs with adequate salvage capacity are available at key points around UK shores."

  I have also highlighted that it is essential, if the decision to withdraw funding is to stand, that alternative arrangements are put in place to allow a seamless transfer of ETV coverage to alternative providers.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is provided to the Samaritans.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s Mental Health Division currently provides the Samaritans (in Scotland) with a core grant of £33,000 per year (2010-13) under the grant scheme associated with section 16b of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

  This grant was awarded following an application by the Samaritans for funding to maintain the staff post of their Scottish Development Manager, the core office costs associated with this, publicity work, and to support branches with regional training, events and expenses for volunteers.

Ministerial Correspondence

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many written representations have been made to (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, (b) the Minister for Public Health and (c) other ministers regarding out-of-hours healthcare provision.

Nicola Sturgeon: 37 items of correspondence were received between 1 May 2007 and 5 November 2010 under the heading "out-of-hours healthcare provision".

  The breakdown of cases are as follows:

  Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing – 2

  Minister for Public Health – 4

  Other Ministers – 31

Ministerial Correspondence

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many written complaints have been made to (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, (b) the Minister for Public Health and (c) other ministers regarding out-of-hours healthcare provision.

Nicola Sturgeon: No complaints have been recorded by the Scottish Executive regarding out-of-hours healthcare provision.

NHS Equipment

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is per patient of operating an (a) electrocardiogram and (b) echocardiogram machine.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2008-09, there were 320,672 attendances across Scotland for Electrocardiography with an estimated cost of £38 per attendance.

  We do not hold centrally the cost of operating an echocardiogram machine.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of redundancy payments for the proposed 25% reduction in senior managers in the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: No. There is a commitment to no compulsory redundancies in NHSScotland. If individual boards choose to approve redundancies on a voluntary basis they would be responsible for identifying and justifying the costs incurred. Any such costs would depend entirely on individual circumstances.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made changes to the number of new entrants to trainee nursing programmes for 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: The intake target for new entrants to pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes remains at 3,060 for the academic session 2010-11. Decisions for 2011-12 will be taken in due course.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places were provided for new entrants to trainee nursing programmes in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The intake targets for new entrants to nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes in both 2008-09 and 2009-10 were 3,060.

NHS Staff

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by each Special Health Board.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS workforce data is published by National Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland annually, as at 30 September 2009 and is available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Overall%20staff%202009_vt.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

Older People

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the establishment of a commissioner for older people; when these discussions took place; with whom, and at what locations.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36937 on 4 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many data measures police forces are required to report to it each year as part of compiling the Scottish Policing Performance Framework.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Policing Performance Framework is the product of significant collaborative working between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Government, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, Audit Scotland, the Scottish Police Authorities Conveners’ Forum and the Scottish Police Services Authority.

  Together they have agreed the framework for 2010-11 which involves forces reporting on 30 indicators.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of measures that police forces are required to report to it each year as part of compiling the Scottish Policing Performance Framework has increased, decreased or remained the same since its introduction.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of indicators and context measures each police force is requested to submit for the compilation of the Scottish Policing Performance Framework (SPPF) has increased from 23 in 2007-08 to 30 in 2010-11.

  The following table provides the number of indicators and context measures on which police forces in Scotland are required to report each year, as part of compiling the SPPF.

  

Year
Number of Indicators and Context Measures in the SPPF to be Reported on by Police Forces


2007-08
23


2008-09
29


2009-10
30


2010-11
30



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  The SPPF was first launched across Scotland in April 2007. The SPPF is the product of significant collaborative working between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Government, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, Audit Scotland, the Scottish Police Authorities Conveners’ Forum and the Scottish Police Services Authority.

  When the SPPF was introduced in 2007-08, it was constrained by the limited amount of consistent data that was available across police forces and had only 23 indicators. Since then, the stakeholders listed above have worked together to develop a more comprehensive suite of indicators.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36750 by Kenny MacAskill on 7 October 2010, whether the announcement will be made to the Parliament.

Kenny MacAskill: I will inform the Parliament how the announcement will be made in due course.

Pre-School Education

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what audit it is undertaking of local authorities’ spending on playgroups.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with local authorities on the funding of playgroups.

Adam Ingram: The importance of play in childhood development is supported by a robust body of research and we believe that playgroups have an important role to play. This is reflected in the Early Years Framework, which was developed by the Scottish Government, COSLA and a wide range of key stakeholders. We have ongoing dialogue with COSLA, with local authorities and their community planning partners on implementation of the framework.

  It is up to local authorities to work with their partners in the private and voluntary sectors to provide play-based services to meet the needs of local communities. There is no direct or ring-fenced funding of playgroups by the Scottish Government and we have no plans to undertake an audit of local funding. The Care Commission inspects playgroups which provide services for over two hours a day and for six days or more each year under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act (2001).

Prescriptions

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what policy approach it is taking to generic substitution in NHSScotland prescribing and whether it is to be reviewed or altered in light of the decision by the UK Department of Health not to proceed with such a scheme.

Shona Robison: No decision has been taken to introduce generic substitution in NHSScotland. It has long been the Scottish Government’s policy to encourage generic prescribing wherever clinically appropriate. This policy has resulted in a high generic prescribing rate. In 2009-10 in Scotland, 83% of prescription items were prescribed generically in primary care. Maximising the use of generic medicines is an area where there may be further opportunities to make cost savings for the NHS and, at present, officials are in discussion with a number of key stakeholders to examine ways to support the use of generic medicines in Scotland.

Public Sector Buildings

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it encourages local authorities to support community use of council-owned buildings that they no longer require.

Alex Neil: Decisions on the future of any local authority owned building, including community centres are solely at the discretion of each individual local authority. The Scottish Government has no locus to intervene. However, the Scottish Government awarded £250,000 in 2009 to the Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) to undertake a national two year programme of work to explore the benefits and risks involved in asset transfer. The findings from this will help local authorities fully consider their options.

Public Sector Buildings

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change how (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards are permitted to use capital receipts from the sale of buildings.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans to change how local authorities are permitted to use capital receipts from the sale of buildings.

  Capital receipts that have been already identified in financial plans as being required to support projects with an approved Outline Business Case will be retained by NHS boards.

  For capital proceeds not identified within existing financial plans, Chief Executive Letter CEL 32 (2010) advised that, with effect from 2011-2012, the capital element of would be pooled centrally to support the overall NHSScotland capital programme. The revenue element of sale proceeds, ie the profit or loss on the disposal, will be retained by the relevant NHS board.

Public Sector Buildings

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the way in which (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards are able to dispose of buildings.

Nicola Sturgeon: New regulations on local authority disposal of land (including buildings) came into force on 1 June 2010. A copy of the regulations can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/26124543/5.

  There are no plans to change the way in which NHS boards are able to dispose of buildings.

Public Sector Pay

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are award or bonus schemes available to public sector workers, other than the NHS distinction award scheme, in which payment is added to the recipient’s salary each year until retirement and, if so, what schemes.

John Swinney: For bodies covered by Scottish Ministers’ public sector pay policy, the Senior Civil Service, police and teachers, there are no such award or bonus schemes.

  As well as the NHS Scotland Distinction Awards Scheme, the NHS operates a system of discretionary points, awarded by NHS boards for outstanding contributions to local health services.

  Pay and conditions for local government and Scottish fire and rescue service personnel are matters for the relevant employers and their representatives. Information on any award or bonus schemes is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Public Sector Pay

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are award or bonus schemes available to public sector workers, other than the NHS distinction award scheme, in which payment is added to the recipient’s pension on retirement.

John Swinney: Non-consolidated performance related payments do not count towards an employee’s pensionable pay.

  Different staff groups are covered by different pension arrangements. Each set of pension scheme regulations determine what elements of pay are pensionable. Some allowances in addition to basic contracted pay may be included. Employees must make scheme pension contributions on all elements of pensionable pay they receive.

  For bodies covered by Scottish Ministers’ public sector pay policy, the Senior Civil Service, police and teachers, there are no award or bonus schemes in which payments are pensionable.

  Within the NHS, payments to staff under the NHS Scotland Distinction Awards Scheme and payments under the discretionary points system are pensionable.

  Pay and conditions for local government and Scottish fire and rescue service personnel are matters for the relevant employers and their representatives. Information on any award or bonus schemes, and whether any payments under such schemes are pensionable, is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the needs of former industrial and coalfield areas in drawing up its budget.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is utilising all available information at its disposal in drawing up its draft budget and has taken forward extensive consultations with delivery partners and communities across Scotland, building on the work carried out by the Independent Budget Review. The position of the needs of former industrial and coalfield areas will be considered in this context.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether wind turbines that have not been accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme are able to qualify for the feed-in tariffs incentive programme.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the great potential of the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) to significantly stimulate uptake of micro renewables in Scotland which, given our abundant natural energy resources, could make a considerable contribution to our ambitious renewable electricity and climate change targets.

  A statutory requirement of the FIT is that wind turbines that have not been accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme will not be able to qualify for the FIT.

  However, the FIT is a UK Government initiative which is administered by the industry regulator Ofgem. Therefore, absolute questions of eligibility should be directed there. Further information is available on the Ofgem website at:

  http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sustainability/environment/fits/Pages/fits.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the number of available wind turbine products accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme being three out of almost 100.

Jim Mather: The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent scheme that certifies microgeneration products and installers in accordance with consistent standards. It is designed to evaluate microgeneration products and installers against robust criteria providing greater protection for consumers.

  However, the MCS is voluntary and the choice of whether or not to participate is for each installer and manufacturer to make. As mentioned in my answer to question S3W-37215 on 11 November 2010, it is a statutory requirement of the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) that products and installers must be accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme in order to qualify for the FIT. It would seem therefore that there is now a clear incentive for these businesses to consider pursuing accreditation.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the wind turbine testing station at East Kilbride has not accredited any turbines in 2010.

Jim Mather: With the recent introduction of the Feed-In Tariff (FIT), we would have expected to see a rise in demand for accredited microrenewables products given that it is a statutory requirement of the FIT.

  However, the wind turbine testing station in East Kilbride is a privately owned enterprise and therefore the Scottish Government cannot give a reason as to why it has not accredited any turbines in 2010.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support small-scale and domestic wind turbine installation projects that have not been accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme by 31 December 2010.

Jim Mather: Small-scale and domestic wind turbine installation projects that have not completed their transition from Clear Skies to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) by the 31 December 2010 deadline may not be eligible for support under UK Government ‘Clean Energy Cashback’ schemes such as the Feed-In Tariff and the forthcoming Renewable Heat Incentive. We would therefore urge any installer or product manufacturer who may fall into that category to contact the MCS licensee, Gemserve as a matter of urgency.

  Further information is available on the MCS website at:

  http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/ or directly from Gemserve at:

  10 Fenchurch Street

  London

  EC3M 3BE

  Email: mcs@gemserv.com

  MCS Helpdesk: +44 (0) 20 7090 1082.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Ofgem to encourage it to facilitate the process of accrediting wind turbines.

Jim Mather: Accreditation of wind turbines is carried out by independent bodies certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and overseen by the UK Accreditation Service. As this is outwith the remit of Ofgem, the Scottish Government will not make representations to Ofgem on this matter.

  Ofgem however, is responsible for the accreditation of installations of small scale wind turbines to ensure that they meet with the criteria of incentives such as the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) and the Scottish Government has made a number of representations on this issue to help ensure the guidance provided to applicants is clear.

Renewable Energy

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the UK Government to ensure that those who plan to install small and reliable turbines on their land are offered financial incentives to do so.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the great potential of micro renewables as, given Scotland’s abundant natural energy resources, they could make a considerable contribution to our ambitious renewable energy and climate change targets.

  We are also committed to maximising Scottish uptake of UK Government schemes such as the Feed-In Tariff, which offers financial incentives to those who install small turbines on their land.

  We have therefore made a number of representations to the UK Government to ensure Scottish interests were taken into account during the development of this scheme and subsequently.

Residential Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds in residential care homes have been commissioned by each local authority in each month of the last three years.

Shona Robison: This information is not available in the format requested. However, information is collected quarterly on the number of people each local authority supports financially in a care home. A copy of this information entitled Number of Residents Supported by Local Authorities in Care Homes in Scotland  has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Centre (Bib. number 51987). That table includes data for the last three years for each local authority in Scotland on the number of residents in local authority and private care homes, in receipt of a financial contribution from the local authority, in each of the following categories:

  1. Long Stay and Respite/Short Stay

  2. Long Stay

  3. Respite/ Short Stay

  4. Self Funders in receipt of Free Personal and Nursing Care.

Road Safety

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in crashes, injuries and deaths has been since the introduction of road safety cameras and what the estimated financial savings have been.

Stewart Stevenson: Road safety cameras were introduced in 1990. Reported road accidents fell by 43% between 1990 and 2009, all severity injuries fell by 45% and road fatalities fell by 60%. These reductions will be due to a number of factors (including road safety education and engineering initiatives) and not the introduction of road safety cameras alone.

  Had casualty levels remained the same as in 1990, it is estimated that the cost to the Scottish economy could have been around £70 million per year (in 2009 prices).

Schools

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, whether representatives of parents or community groups are entitled to appear before local authority bodies making decisions on school closures.

Michael Russell: The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 gives parents, parent councils and community councils a central role in the consultation process associated with a school closure proposal, as mandatory consultees. The Act also provides for a three week period, after a local authority has published its consultation report, for these groups, and anyone else with an interest, to make representations to the decision makers before they can meet to take a final decision. It does not however prescribe whether or not these groups are allowed to appear before the local authority when they are taking the decision on a closure proposal; that is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority to determine, bearing in mind the obligation of all elected bodies to be accessible, open and transparent in their decision making.

Scottish Government Expenditure

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the delegation to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: Although final costs have still to be confirmed, the estimated cost of flights and accommodation for the Scottish Government delegation which went to Delhi to support Team Scotland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games; attend the Observer programme to learn for Glasgow 2014 and undertake other Government business is £59,000. The travel and accommodation costs for the Scottish Executive delegation at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne was £54,901(2006 prices).

Scottish Government Finance

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by HM Treasury over plans to abolish end year flexibility.

John Swinney: No. Spending review guidance issued by HM Treasury in June 2010 made clear that Spending Review 2010 submissions from Whitehall departments should be based on the assumption that access to end year flexibility (EYF) balances was not guaranteed. HM Treasury’s budget guidance has consistently said that departments’ spending plans should not assume drawdown of EYF unless specifically agreed beforehand by HM Treasury.

Scottish Government Finance

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of unallocated end year flexibility was in May 2007.

John Swinney: The Scottish end year flexibility (EYF) balance published by HM Treasury in July 2007 was £1,529 million. Agreement had already been reached to draw down £655 million of this total in the course of 2007-08. This left a balance of £874 million which the present administration agreed with HM Treasury could be drawn down in full over the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 period, that is between 2008-09 and 2010-11. These agreements have been honoured in full by HM Treasury.

Scottish Government Finance

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has maintained a policy of limiting end year flexibility (EYF) and what it expects the value of EYF to be at the end of 2010-11.

John Swinney: This administration has consistently maximised the use of resources and minimised underspends to ensure that further end year flexibility (EYF) balances, to which there is no guaranteed access, have been kept to a minimum. There will be no EYF at the end of 2010-11 following the recent decision by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chief Secretary to the Treasury to abolish the current EYF system and all accumulated stocks.

Scottish Government Finance

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will engage with HM Treasury to ensure that any money in end year flexibility at the end of 2010-11 is available to the Scottish Government’s budget in the future.

John Swinney: We have consistently argued for full and unfettered access to end year flexibility (EYF) and will continue to engage with HM Treasury to ensure that Scotland’s interests are fully recognised and protected in whatever new system replaces EYF in 2011-12.

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has offered the devolved governments an alternative means of accessing any planned underspends which are declared in sufficient time to be included in the Treasury’s spring supplementary estimate. A corresponding increase would then be made to the departmental expenditure limit in the following year. This will apply to any underspends declared with effect from the end of 2010-11.

Scottish Government Legislation

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be to (a) it and (b) local government in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15 with regard to the (A) Certification of Death (Scotland) Bill, (B) Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Bill, (C) Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Bill, (D) Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Bill, (E) Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Bill, (F) Public Records (Scotland) Bill and (G) Reservoirs (Scotland) Bill.

John Swinney: In accordance with Standing Order 9.3.2 all the bills highlighted by the member were accompanied by a Financial Memorandum on introduction. Each memorandum sets out the best estimates of the administrative, compliance and other costs to which the provisions of the bill would give rise, best estimates of the timescales over which costs would be expected to arise, and an indication of the margins of uncertainty in such estimates. The memorandum distinguishes separately where the costs fell upon the Scottish Government, local authorities and other bodies.

  Financial Memorandums are published by the Parliament alongside each bill.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6845 by John Swinney on 6 December 2007, what the value is of the pay ranges that apply in its core directorates and the percentage of its total staff in each pay range.

John Swinney: The value of the pay ranges which apply in the Scottish Government core directorates and the percentage of the total staff in each range are as follows:

  

Pay Range
Minimum (£)
Maximum (£)
% of Staff


A3
15,792
17,632
19.1%


A4
17,632
20,405
5.0%


B1
22,173
25,165
15.8%


B2
25,165
30,267
21.3%


B3
32,249
40,173
16.5%


BF
27,000
32,555
1.0%


C1
43,736
52,595
12.2%


C2
52,595
63,743
5.0%


C3
59,284
66,671
0.9%


SCS1
58,200
117,800
2.0%


SCS1A
67,600
128,900
0.6%


SCS2
82,900
162,500
0.6%


SCS3
101,500
208,100
0.1%

Security Industry

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the decision by the UK Government that the work of the Security Industry Authority should be subject to a "phased transition to new regulatory regime".

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not support the decision of the UK Government.

  The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been working very well in Scotland and the Scottish Government made a very strong case to the UK Government for its continuation as the independent body responsible for regulating the private security industry.

  The Scottish Government is clear that the regulation of the private security industry will continue in Scotland and that regulation has been a vital tool in tackling serious organised crime groups which are active in this industry. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the industry, the SIA, the UK Government, law enforcement agencies and other partners until a new regulatory regime is in place.

Security Industry

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it was consulted on the decision by the UK Government that the work of the Security Industry Authority should be subject to a "phased transition to new regulatory regime".

Kenny MacAskill: The Home Secretary wrote to the Scottish Government on 8 September 2010 seeking my views on the UK Government’s intentions for the future of the Security Industry Authority.

  I responded on behalf of the Scottish Government on 13 September 2010 setting out my concerns about the UK Government’s proposals and strongly emphasising the need for continued regulation of the private security industry in Scotland.

  These views were also set out in a letter that I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister on 24 September 2010, and in a further letter to the Home Secretary following my meeting with Scottish security industry representatives on 13 October 2010.

Security Industry

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what dialogue it has had with the UK Government on the impact in Scotland as a result of the decision by the UK Government that the work of the Security Industry Authority should be subject to a "phased transition to new regulatory regime".

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has had and is continuing to have discussions with the UK Government, the Security Industry Authority, industry representatives, law enforcement agencies and other partners to ensure that regulation of the security industry in Scotland continues.

Small Businesses

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in (a) South and (b) East Ayrshire received funding from the small business bonus scheme in 2009-10.

John Swinney: The number of recipients and the average savings in 2009-10 for the small business bonus scheme were published on 23 August 2010 and 15 September 2010 respectively.

  In East Ayrshire, 1,341 properties were in receipt of the small business bonus scheme, each saving an average of £1,566.

  In South Ayrshire 1,848 properties were in receipt of the small business bonus scheme, each saving an average of £1,404.

Small Businesses

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in (a) South and (b) East Ayrshire will be eligible for the small business bonus scheme in 2010-11.

John Swinney: Following the 2010 business rates revaluation, the number of properties potentially eligible for small business bonus scheme across Scotland has increased by 12%, from 102,000 in 2009-10 to 114,600 in 2010-11.

  The actual take-up for 2010-11 will be published in 2011, including a breakdown by local authority area.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the convener of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be appointed.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the chief executive of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be appointed and when they will take up the post.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned launch of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland in April 2011 is on track.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the senior management team of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be appointed and when they will take up their posts.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what planning it has undertaken with regard to the staffing and budget of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland and when it will provide this information to the Parliament.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of job losses it anticipates in the first three years of the operation of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland, as outlined in the Draft Transitional Operating Plan.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the project team responsible for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is working under the assumption of a 12.5% budget cut and, if so, whether part of this reduction will be achieved by voluntary severance.

Shona Robison: The Minister for Children and Early Years and I expect to make an announcement in November 2010 about the appointment of the Chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS).

  Interviews will be held later this month for the post of chief executive and we will announce that appointment shortly thereafter along with the date when the new chief executive will take up post.

  I can confirm that the planned launch of SCSWIS on 1 April 2011 is on schedule.

  The Minister for Children and Early Years and I have agreed the approach to developing the new organisation over three years as part of the draft operating plan for the new organisation. The transition team is now developing the draft business plan including an interim structure and is making progress on procedures for matching senior management and staff into SCSWIS. As part of this work on-going consultation is being held with the SCSWIS partnership forum and senior staff of the existing bodies.

  Final decisions on the budget and staffing for the new body cannot be made until later this month when the outcome of the spending review is announced. However once known, we expect the senior management team to be appointed and take up their posts in the shadow organisation in the coming weeks.

  In line with our government’s aim of developing more proportionate and risk-based scrutiny we expect SCSWIS to have a smaller budget and fewer staff than the bodies and part of HM Inspectorate of Education that are being merged to create it. However, until the outcome of the spending review is known we cannot forecast SCSWIS actual budget or what level of job losses might be required in the first three years of the new body.